Legal separation (sometimes "judicial separation", "separate maintenance", "divorce a mensa et thoro", or "divorce from bed-and-board") is a legal process

by which a married couple may formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally married. A legal separation is granted in the form of a court order. Furthermore, in cases where children are involved, a court order of legal separation often makes temporary arrangements for the care, custody, and financial support of the children ("for the time being"). Thus, part of the court order determines child custody. Some couples obtain a legal separation as an alternative to a divorce, based on moral or religious objections to divorce. Legal separation does not automatically lead to divorce. The couple might reconcile, in which case they do not have to do anything in order to continue their marriage. If the two do not reconcile, and they wish to proceed with a divorce, they must file for divorce explicitly. Legal annualment of marriage
A marriage is NEVER legally valid when it is:

Incestuous: when the people who are married or in a registered domestic partnership are close blood relatives; or Bigamous: where a spouse or domestic partner is already married to or in a registered domestic partnership with someone else.

Other marriages and partnerships can be declared invalid because of:

Age at the time of marriage or domestic partnership: the party filing for the annulment was under 18 years old at the time of the marriage or domestic partnership. Prior existing marriage or domestic partnership: Either party was already legally married or in a registered domestic partnership. This is different from bigamy (which is automatically illegal) because, in this case, the marriage or domestic partnership took place after the former spouse or domestic partner was absent for 5 years and not known to be living or generally thought to be dead. Unsound mind: either party was of unsound mind or unable to understand the nature of the marriage or domestic partnership, including the obligations that come with it. Fraud: Either party got married or registered the domestic partnership as a result of fraud. The fraud must have been about something vital to the relationship that directly affected why the party who was deceived agreed to the marriage or domestic partnership. Some examples are marrying only to get a green card or hiding the inability to have children. Force: either party consented to getting married or filing a domestic partnership as a result of force. Physical incapacity: the parties got married or registered a domestic partnership while 1 of them was physically incapacitated (basically, it means that 1 of the spouses or partners was physically incapable of consummating the relationship) and the incapacity continues and appears to be incurable.